Theater Review: 'The Baroness' at Playhouse on Park

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

Playhouse on Park has produced the World Premiere of “The Baroness,” a new comedy deliciously written by Connecticut playwright Jacques Lamarre.

Michael Schiralli, the director of the comedy, notes that Lamarre’s clever story about the two lesser-known characters from “The Sound of Music” involves “deceit, revenge and unparalleled couture,” but it is not an episode of the “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.”

“The Baroness” picks up the story of Elsa Von Schrader, the wannabe ‘mansion wife’ of Austrian high society,” who has just been passed over by Austria’s most eligible bachelor, Georg Von Trapp for Maria Rainer, or “Atilla The Nun.” “Refusing to let a dowdy governess get the better of her, the Baroness takes to her room to plot her revenge, when a certain telegram delivery boy climbs through her window,” reads the Playhouse on Park description of the show.

The Baroness enlists the help of the messenger boy Rolf Gruber to scrape her way back to becoming the lady of the magnificent Von Trapp house.

The two acts involve some “high jinks, lascivious reciprocity and much to be revealed” about these two supporting characters in the film. The second act takes place two months after the fateful ball given in The Baroness’ honor at the mansion.

Lamarre’s script is filled with sly references to the beloved film version. Elsa does indeed have a harmonica packed in one of her many suitcases, which she and Rolf actually use to sing a made up musical number. The jilted Elsa never manages to remember Liesel’s name. She has plenty of (very funny) put-downs for the failed nun, problem-to-be-solved, Maria, including her “period inappropriate pixie” haircut.

The script takes shots at offending Germans and gay people with references appropriate to the time period. Broadway fans will catch the references to singing voice actress Marnie Nixon and composers Rodgers & Hammerstein.

The cast is made up of two talented Equity performers who keep the laughs alive throughout the show that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Sarah Street, an actor and writer from Cork City in Ireland, embodies the Baroness, who deems the best way to deal with the oncoming political situation is not to fight it. The Baroness is at times petulant, at times pragmatic and always very funny, right up to her final monologue in a phone call to a major character in the story.

Nick Apostolina plays the young Rolf in his Playhouse on Park debut. The “17-going-on-18” messenger boy/Nazi Youth is a very young man totally entrenched in the Nazi movement and the actor masters the character while emphasizing the comedic elements.

Schiralli directs the production so that all of the comedy shines through the moments of drama. Schiralli directed LeMarre’s “Secondo” when it was produced at Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury.

The costumes designed by Jimmy Johansmeyer are each a work of art. The Baroness enters in a shiny red gown topped with a black lace trimmed jacket that fits her perfectly. The second act opens with her decked out in pastel pink peignoir set with bell sleeves, and ends with a lovely green voile-sleeve blouse and long skirt. There is a gown similar to the one worn by the actress Eleanor Parker in the film on display in the lobby.

The scenic design by New York City-based Kim Zhou brings Elsa’s guest bedroom in the Von Trapp mansion to the low-ceilinged Playhouse stage. It evokes the time period of “The Sound of Music” and a post at the front corner serves as the door to the suite. Props Master Judi Manfre oversees the items in the room that also mirror the era.

Lighting Designer Johann Fitzpatrick highlights the beauty of the set and costumes and also makes it possible for the actors to navigate one important scene change. The sound design by Rachel Landy includes a curtain speech recorded by the Baroness herself and some music reminiscent of the iconic film version.

The playwright is the writer of “I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti,” and “Secondo,” both performed at Seven Angels Theatre, and is one of the co-writers of “Christmas on the Rocks.”

The play is presented with one intermission and runs approximately 100 minutes. Performances continue at Playhouse on Park as part of its 16th season through June 22. Up next at Playhouse on Park will be “Singing in the Rain.” For tickets, visit www.playhouseonpark.org or call (860) 523-5900 Ext.10